Cushinstown off to top start
Defeat for HWH-Bunclody
ONE OF the stand-out results of the weekend was delivered in Bellefield on Saturday when Rathgarogue-Cushinstown recorded an impressive win over HWH-Bunclody in this Group A opener in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship.
They were avenging last year’s two-point quarter-final exit to the same opponents in the process, and it was a thoroughly-deserved victory.
Not alone did Rathgarogue-Cushinstown prove superior on the scoreboard, they also out-fought their rivals in most of the 50-50 battles as their two big men down the spine of the attack made telling impacts.
Daniel Martin Carroll and Bernard Furlong combined for 2-2 from play between them as well as setting up a host of other chances for the New Ross District men who led by 1-7 to 1-3 at half-time despite playing against the wind.
They set their stall out early with the first three points from the former, Jason Dunne and a Brian O’Neill free, only for HWH-Bunclody to hit back with a levelling goal in the eighth minute.
Netminder Nicky Sinnott seemed to be expecting a Jason Cowman delivery from the right to tail off wide, but its flight was followed all the way by full-forward Eoin Kelly who batted to the net (1-0 to 0-3).
The next six points were shared before Rathgarogue-Cushinstown moved clear by 1-6 to 1-3 in the 28th minute when Bernard Furlong and Patrick Murphy combined to set up veteran Ollie Bolger for a well-worked goal.
Murphy couldn’t make the most of a good chance to rattle the net again on their next attack, but a Furlong assist saw Tadhg Cody stretch the advantage to four points by half-time.
Two scores from free-taker and captain Brian O’Neill were sandwiched by a converted placed ball by HWH-Bunclody’s Seán Kenny on the re-start before Rathgarogue-Cushinstown cut through a porous defence for another fine goal in the 38th minute.
Daniel Martin Carroll was the instigator, with his low pass gathered by Daire Bolger who turned swiftly before finding Bernard Furlong, and the big full-forward did the rest (2-9 to 1-4).
HWH-Bunclody did enjoy a brighter spell midway through the half, and a hat-trick Billy Kelly frees brought the gap down to four (2-10 to 1-9) by the 52nd minute.
It was left to Daniel Martin Carroll to grab the crucial third goal for his team, latching on to a long free before improvising superbly with a batted finish to avoid the possibility of being hooked.
Aidan Nolan and Daire Bolger (free) went on to swap points before the former’s attempt at goal from a free was turned around the post by Nicky Sinnott.
However, HWH-Bunclody did manage a consolation goal from the ’65 that followed, as Sinnott was adjudged to have been over his line when he caught Seán Kenny’s probing delivery.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Nicky Sinnott; Peadar Cody, Bryan Cody, Ricky McGrath; Robert Murphy, Matthew Cody, Eoin Porter; Tadhg Cody (0-2), Brian O’Neill (capt., 0-5, 4 frees); Ollie Bolger (1-0), Daniel Martin Carroll (1-2), Jason Dunne (0-1); Patrick Murphy, Bernard Furlong (1-0), Daire Bolger (0-1 free). Subs. - Chris Kent for P. Murphy (47), Liam O’Shea for D. Bolger (60+2).
HWH-Bunclody: John Byrne; John Dunne, Colm Farrell, Conor Crean; Ciarán Kavanagh, Seán Kenny (1-2, 1-0 ’65, 0-2 frees), Lee Levingstone; Josh Martin, Billy Kelly (0-5 frees); Peter Atkinson, Aidan Nolan (capt., 0-3, 1 free), Tadhg Kelly; Jason Cowman, Eoin Kelly (1-0), Cathal Doyle. Subs. - Kevin Dunne for Cowman (35), Cathal Dunbar for Doyle (49), Ronan Roberts for K. Dunne, inj. (56).
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).